Bali Nine: Australian drug smugglers moved to Indonesian island execution site

EmbedFeedBali 9 Australian drug smugglers moved to execution siteIBTimes UK

A family member of an Australian convict on death row was denied a visit before he was moved from a prison in Bali on 3 March to be taken to an Indonesian island where the firing squad execution will take place.

The planned executions of Myuran Sukumaran and Andrew Chan, the ringleaders of the "Bali Nine" Australian drug gang, ratcheted up diplomatic tensions between Australia and Indonesia following repeated pleas of mercy for the pair, who are among 11 death row convicts scheduled to go before a firing squad.

Sukumaran and Chan left Kerobokan Prison in an armoured van with a police escort before dawn and were taken to Bali's airport for the trip to the island of Nusakambangan, where executions are carried out.

Michael Chan, brother of Andrew Chan, was turned away from the prison before the transfer. He declined to make any comment as he left the prison.

Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott said he was "revolted by the prospect of these executions", a harsh response after Indonesian President Joko Widodo recently told other countries to stay out of his country's sovereign affairs.

A Frenchman and a Brazilian are already on the island. Also facing execution are citizens of the Philippines, Ghana and Nigeria as well as Indonesia.

Widodo has adopted a tough stance against drug traffickers and others on death row, denying clemency to the 11 convicts. Executions were resumed in 2013 after a five-year gap.